Tuesday, March 24, 2009

At my doctor's visit today, the decision was made to switch me completely over to a drug called Revlimed, a second generation to a drug called Thalidimide, if either name means anything to you. They are very tightly controlled drugs and I had to sign a lot of forms and sit through several briefings to get a one-month prescription, and will have to repeat the process to get it refilled each month. Hopefully, side effects will be few and effectiveness will be great. A definite positive point is that this new medication is taken orally, rather than by infusion. This frees up at least 6 hours every week from having to go to the doc's office and get infusions, as well as makes it much easier to plan trips, without having to tuck them in during times when I will be in and out of the IV room. (How would you like to be given 6 more hours a week?)Here we go on the next phase of this adventure. Thanks for caring, and thanks for praying.

Monday, March 23, 2009

On Saturday, Alyssa (6 months old) dropped by for a little while to see her grandpa while her grandmother put away the groceries from their shopping expedition. While here, she became the latest of all the Bennett grandchildren to ride in the swing.

As she’d swing forward, she would tap my beard and face with her foot, then just laugh, laugh, laugh as she swung back. It was a neat time. For pictures of the great grocery shopping expedition, visit Carol’s blog.

Saturday, March 7, 2009

The blood sample taken on Tuesday, March 3, shows the cancer numbers continuing to increase. They are now almost as high as they were at diagnosis 18 months ago, and higher than at any time since we began chemo therapy treatments. The doctor will probably add another drug (as yet undecided) to the treatment mix later this month. I'll let you know when that happens.